Friday, February 9
Macon, Ga.
2:30 P.M.
Mercer University
1-0
10
vs
6
Buffalo
0-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Buffalo
2
0
4
0
0
0
0
6
10
1
Mercer
1
2
0
0
3
4
X
10
12
1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Preston, Stella (1-0)
L: BAKER, Brieana (0-1)
Batting:
2B: LALLOS, Danielle 1
3B: OGAGAN, Ufuoma 1
HR: KARJEL, Alissa 1 ; MARTINEZ, Jenelle 1
RBI: KARJEL, Alissa 3 ; MARTINEZ, Jenelle 3
Base Running:
RUNS: JEW, Leandra 1 ; LALLOS, Danielle 1 ; AGUON, Anna 2 ; KARJEL, Alissa 1 ; MARTINEZ, Jenelle 1
SB: OGAGAN, Ufuoma 1
HBP: AGUON, Anna 1
Batting:
2B: Sanchez, Laurenne 1
HR: Walsh, Abby 1 ; Taylor, Caroline 1 ; Andrew, Emma 1
RBI: Rud, Meghan 2 ; Lane, Megan 1 ; Mauga, Quirisa 1 ; Walsh, Abby 2 ; Taylor, Caroline 2 ; Andrew, Emma 1
SH: Sanchez, Laurenne 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rud, Meghan 2 ; Mauga, Quirisa 1 ; Walsh, Abby 2 ; Taylor, Caroline 1 ; Buckland, Kate 1 ; Andrew, Emma 1 ; Rood, Micayla 1 ; Sanchez, Laurenne 1
SB: Lane, Megan 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballC/OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
Photo by: Southern Conference
Bears Sweep Opening Day of Mercer Invitational
2/9/2018 8:53:00 PM | Softball
Long ball leads the way to wins over Buffalo, Appalachian State
MACON, Ga. – Five home runs and a complete-game shutout by Jill McElderry powered Mercer to a pair of season-opening wins in the Mercer Invitational at Sikes Field on Friday.
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The Bears (2-0) defeated Buffalo, 10-6, in come-from-behind fashion before dominating Appalachian State, 8-0, in the second of two consecutive games played.
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Game 1: Mercer 10, Buffalo 6
Mercer used three home runs over a two-inning stretch to rally past Buffalo (0-2) for its first win of the 2018 campaign. Trailing 6-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bears provided fireworks with long balls by Caroline Taylor, Emma Andrew and Abby Walsh. Taylor's two-run shot and Andrew's solo blast went back-to-back, tying the contest at 6-6.
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After Laurenne Sanchez scored the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice and Quirisa Mauga plated Meghan Rud with a RBI single, Walsh added the exclamation mark with a two-run home run in the sixth inning. The four-run lead was plenty for Stella Preston, who tossed four innings of scoreless ball to earn the win after starting pitcher Megan Bilgri was chased after three frames.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Stella Preston (1-0)
» Loss: Brieana Baker (0-1)
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Game 2: Mercer 8, Appalachian State 0
An early three-run advantage was all starting pitcher Jill McElderry needed to cruise to her first win of the season. The senior right-hander worked around four walks while allowing only two hits to silence the Mountaineers.
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Meanwhile, Mercer's offense stayed consistent with a 14-hit effort. Mauga (RBI double) and Walsh (RBI single) capitalized on early opportunities before the Bears pulled away in the fifth inning. After a solo home run by Walsh, her second of the day, Andrew matched her with a two-run inside-the-park home run. Shaila Warren added a two-RBI single in the sixth to force the run rule.
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Pitchers of Record
» Win: Jill McElderry (1-0)
» Loss: Kenzie Longanecker (0-1)
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------------------
Stat of the Day
The Bears' bats were hot Saturday, as they tallied 26 hits in 12 innings of play. Six Bears totaled eight multi-hit performances, including Mauga and Sanchez, both of whom had two hits in each game.
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Player of the Day
Sophomore Abby Walsh tallied three hits (3-for-7) along with four RBIs, four runs scored and one walk in one of multiple impressive individual efforts Saturday. The right fielder was one of two Bears, including Andrew, with a pair of home runs.
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Notables
» Mercer's 2-0 start is its first since 2016, when it defeated St. Bonaventure and Central Michigan at home to open the season.
» Freshman Laurenne Sanchez went 4-for-5 with three doubles and two runs scored.
» Caroline Taylor drew four walks on the day in addition to three hits.
» Meghan Rud picked up where she left off in 2017, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the Bears' season opener.
» Megan Lane recorded Mercer's lone stolen base of the day.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 2-0
» Buffalo: 0-2
» Appalachian State: 0-1
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Up Next
Mercer will face Buffalo (2 p.m.) and Central Michigan (4:15 p.m.) Saturday at Sikes Field in the second day of the Mercer Invitational.
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Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), /MercerSoftball (Facebook) and @MercerUSoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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The Bears (2-0) defeated Buffalo, 10-6, in come-from-behind fashion before dominating Appalachian State, 8-0, in the second of two consecutive games played.
Â
Game 1: Mercer 10, Buffalo 6
Mercer used three home runs over a two-inning stretch to rally past Buffalo (0-2) for its first win of the 2018 campaign. Trailing 6-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bears provided fireworks with long balls by Caroline Taylor, Emma Andrew and Abby Walsh. Taylor's two-run shot and Andrew's solo blast went back-to-back, tying the contest at 6-6.
Â
After Laurenne Sanchez scored the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice and Quirisa Mauga plated Meghan Rud with a RBI single, Walsh added the exclamation mark with a two-run home run in the sixth inning. The four-run lead was plenty for Stella Preston, who tossed four innings of scoreless ball to earn the win after starting pitcher Megan Bilgri was chased after three frames.
Â
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Stella Preston (1-0)
» Loss: Brieana Baker (0-1)
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Game 2: Mercer 8, Appalachian State 0
An early three-run advantage was all starting pitcher Jill McElderry needed to cruise to her first win of the season. The senior right-hander worked around four walks while allowing only two hits to silence the Mountaineers.
Â
Meanwhile, Mercer's offense stayed consistent with a 14-hit effort. Mauga (RBI double) and Walsh (RBI single) capitalized on early opportunities before the Bears pulled away in the fifth inning. After a solo home run by Walsh, her second of the day, Andrew matched her with a two-run inside-the-park home run. Shaila Warren added a two-RBI single in the sixth to force the run rule.
Â
Pitchers of Record
» Win: Jill McElderry (1-0)
» Loss: Kenzie Longanecker (0-1)
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------------------
Stat of the Day
The Bears' bats were hot Saturday, as they tallied 26 hits in 12 innings of play. Six Bears totaled eight multi-hit performances, including Mauga and Sanchez, both of whom had two hits in each game.
Â
Player of the Day
Sophomore Abby Walsh tallied three hits (3-for-7) along with four RBIs, four runs scored and one walk in one of multiple impressive individual efforts Saturday. The right fielder was one of two Bears, including Andrew, with a pair of home runs.
Â
Notables
» Mercer's 2-0 start is its first since 2016, when it defeated St. Bonaventure and Central Michigan at home to open the season.
» Freshman Laurenne Sanchez went 4-for-5 with three doubles and two runs scored.
» Caroline Taylor drew four walks on the day in addition to three hits.
» Meghan Rud picked up where she left off in 2017, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the Bears' season opener.
» Megan Lane recorded Mercer's lone stolen base of the day.
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Record Update
» Mercer: 2-0
» Buffalo: 0-2
» Appalachian State: 0-1
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Up Next
Mercer will face Buffalo (2 p.m.) and Central Michigan (4:15 p.m.) Saturday at Sikes Field in the second day of the Mercer Invitational.
Â
Follow the Bears
For complete coverage of Mercer Softball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerUSoftball (Twitter), /MercerSoftball (Facebook) and @MercerUSoftball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
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